State title shot for Cary-Grove's Cullen

CHAMPAIGN - Michael Cullen and Eric Barone will both be competing for a state wrestling title Saturday night.

The dynamic duo from the Fox Valley Conference each produced yet another masterful performance on Friday. Cullen made it through to his first championship match after three previous trips here yielded three state medals while Barone's victory over Phyllip DeLoach (39-1) sets up a potentially thrilling 145-pound final with No. 1 Larry Early III (Oak Park-River Forest), who defeated Barone a few weeks ago 3-2.

"It feels good to finally be in the final, but the job isn't finished yet," said Cullen, who in both of his matches on the day started on the front foot, looking dangerous as he opened the scoring before carving up his opponent's chances down to nothing.

"I felt real good getting out in front this morning and tonight, and even when I gave up a point or two along the way, I kept my position, and composure, and tried hard not to allow my opponent to gain any confidence as the match went on."

Cullen (41-1) opened his day with a 7-0 shutout of Nick Lukanich (Marist, 36-10) to set up his semifinal with the terrific senior from Oswego, Andrew McFall (42-4), who edged both of his previous rivals in order to advance to the semifinals.

Once there, Cullen took an all-important first lead just under 60 seconds and added a one-point escape to start the second period. McFall cut into his lead at 5 minutes, before the Cary-Grove senior tightened the screws to secure his place in the Grand March, alongside head coach Ryan Ludwig.

"The focus on the big goal of winning a state title has never been stronger for Michael, and (Saturday) night, we'll go after it," said Ludwig, who still has his heavyweight, Michael Gomez (35-5) in the race for a state medal after the senior pinned his opponent in his wrestleback opener.

Earlier in the day, Gomez dropped a heartbreaking 3-2 decision to Lincoln-Way Central's Brian Ditchman in his quarterfinal.

Barone (42-1) didn't disappoint the Crystal Lake South faithful during his punishing 10-2 victory over the previously undefeated DeLoach to book his place in the finals, one year after collecting a fifth-place medal at 145 pounds.

"It's a dream come true to get to the finals, but now I need to make sure it finishes up the way I dreamed it would," said the always quotable Barone, who enjoyed his first romp of the weekend, after his first two contests' were played closer to the vest.

The Gators' senior would defeat Anthony Metallo (Addison Trail, 38-7) in his quarterfinal to advance into his semifinal with DeLoach, as he made sure the big-throwing Metallo, who stunned state ranked Michael Callahan (Marmion Academy) in the quarters, would do nothing of the sort to the No. 3 rated South star.

"I know he had ideas to do that to me, but there was no way that was going to happen," Barone said.

Barone's good friend and teammate Garrett Dziedzic (30-11) overcame a difficult 3-2 defeat in the quarterfinals to Jaime Hernandez (OPRF, 31-8) by rebounding with a solid first-round wrestleback triumph to keep his hopes alive for a state medal.

On a night of several stunning upsets, 2014 state runner-up, and the No. 1 seed here this weekend, Christian Brunner (Dundee-Crown, 41-2) saw his hopes for a championship ring dashed by Timothy Young (38-1) of Aurora East.

Young opened a 6-2 advantage after two periods with a rampant attack, and would slowly build upon his lead en route to a 10-4 victory.

"Young was an impressive opponent out there tonight," began Chargers' head coach, Matt Wahl. "It was one of those days when Christian was unable to finish his shots, and his opponent defended them well, while showing a real strong attack, in which we had trouble stopping tonight but he'll be back next year and I know he'll come back (Saturday) and go hard after that third-place medal."

Several from the area are just one victory away from such a reward, including Hampshire senior Anton Krocko (170) who would reach the 40-win plateau after his 7-1 victory in wrestlebacks.

Burlington Central freshman, Austin Macias (106) fired back from a 5-3 defeat in the quarters to Kevin Radcliff (Rich East, 34-10) sending the Rockets' young star into the consolation bracket, where he set sail on his first state medal following his 2:57 pin.

I was disappointed in my loss to Radcliff because I wrestled the way he wanted me to instead of the other way around," said Macias, now 41-3.

"That loss will give me even more motivation for next year, when I come back downstate and hopefully win a state title."

Huntley sophomore Josh Stenger (42-9) remains alive at 113 in wrestlebacks, while his mates, seniors Ricky Vigil and Brandon Meyers saw their four-year careers come to an end.

Vigil (31-6) saw things end abruptly when he suffered an injury during his first round match, and was unable to return, while Meyers, the all-time program leader in wins, was eliminated following his 3-1 defeat in wrestlebacks.